Sponsored Feature: Nekki on jumping from the rooftops in Vector

You might glance at the screenshots for new iOS game Vector (look to your right) and think it's just another endless-runner.

Vector's developer, Nekki, is keen to emphasise, though, that this is far from the case.

For one thing, Vector is set in a future totalitarian state. For another, it's all about parkour. For those unfamiliar with that term, practitioners of parkour get from one place to another by leaping over and generally negotiating obstacles without any special equipment.

Andrey Revenko, project manager for Vector at Nekki, spoke to us about the game in detail and told us why he thinks it should be considered a very unique experience.

So, what makes Vector so different from the scores of endless-runners on the App Store?

"You can't compare Vector with an endless-runner, as the various environments and areas in Vector are subdivided into levels, all of which have been manually and thoroughly designed," Revenko says.

"Also, we have focused on realistic animations in Vector, so it looks more like a parkour simulator. Thirdly, Vector has a detailed storyline."

Even so, jumping from roof to roof could get dull. Revenko explains that his team has already given due consideration to this potential stumbling block.

"The gameplay of Vector has significant depth: every track and location has certain tasks and unique challenges to overcome," he says.

"It is definitely easy to complete every level in Vector within, say, a few tries, but if you really want to master a level and achieve a 3-star rating, you have to analyze and understand its specific architecture. Only players with a talent for anticipation and a good memory will really master Vector."

Quick reactions are an essential skill in Vector, then, but the controls have been designed in such a way to enable a player of any skill level to pull off the complex parkour moves.

"The animations are context sensitive," Revenko explains. "You just swipe up and your character performs different movements according to the next obstacle type.

"For example, he can climb on corners and jump back from walls. In the case of parkour tricks, you only can do them in spots marked with trick icons. That's part of the game design."

When you're not leaping from rooftops, you are invited to take in the game's plot - focused on escaping from the aforementioned totalitarian world - as well as enjoy the silhouette character design.

"We focused more on the animation than the overall appearance, and we tried to concentrate on polishing the gameplay without getting distracted by unnecessary things," Revenko says.

"For small displays, the silhouette design is perfectly suited. And if you read the comments by Vector players, most people understand our reasoning for making sure that we get the gameplay right first and foremost."

There are in-app purchases available in Vector, but Revenko explains that they're not something you need to make progress in the game - especially in the paid version of the title.

"All versions of Vector can be mastered without purchasing any additional in-game coins," he says. "Payments aren't really needed in either the paid or the free version of Vector (which we plan to launch within the next two weeks)."

That isn't the end of the road - or, more accurately, rooftop - for Vector, by the way.

"We have planned constant updates with new tracks, tricks, locations, and gadgets," Revenko reveals. "At the same time, something new will be added to the game's story. We will also prepare an awesome online mode which will make it possible to play Vector together with friends."

You can download Vector as a Universal app for iPhone and iPad for 69p / 99c [iTunes link], with a HD iPad version also available for £1.19 / $1.99 [iTunes link].

An Android version is currently being developed, while Revenko tells us a Windows Phone port is a possibility as well.